The Deadpool franchise is rereleasing their most recent film in a PG-13 version dubbed “Once Upon a Deadpool.” In the film, Deadpool captures Fred Savage (who starred as the little boy in “Princess Bride”) and tells him a storybook version of the film editing out the portions that made the film rated R. The film seems like it might be a hit with Latter-day Saint audiences who love “Princess Bride” and PG-13 edits of R-rated movies. But on that front, the film… Read more

Perez Hilton, the popular entertainment blogger, chose to use his platform late last week to lash out at the Church of Jesus Christ. Kristin Chenoweth, the popular Broadway performer, perhaps best known for originating the character of Glinda in “Wicked,” is set to perform with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concert December 13-15. Chenoweth will join a long list of celebrities that have performed with the Tabernacle Choir including Angela Lansbury, Sting, Yo-Yo Ma, and… Read more

In my first post on why I love the Church of Jesus Christ, I focused on how I loved that it was true. I meant that in the strictly literal, by the book definition, that everyone would normally acknowledge. But I think the Church is also true in other, more metaphorical, ways. In navigation a compass points towards magnetic north, which is close but not quite at “true” north. Depending on its location, a ship’s navigator needs to calculate a… Read more

Americans are having fewer children than ever before. Why? Well according to to the Deseret News’ recent American Family Survey, the most common factor in deciding to have children was finances. 97% said financial considerations were important. This was higher than be married, be in a relationship, have health insurance. All of which is to say, apparently I’m weird. Really weird. I graduated with a degree in English (would you like fries with that) in the late spring. And while… Read more

This weekend some numbers from the upcoming “Next Mormons Survey” broke suggesting large numbers of Latter-day Saints are bothered by high profile excommunications. 43% of temple-recommend holders say they are troubled. 66% of millennial members say they are troubled. Unsurprisingly those who reported less commitment to the church were more troubled by the excommunications (though several commentators conflated those numbers suggesting without basis that the excommunications caused the lower commitment.) But across the board, a large number of Latter-day Saints say… Read more

Are you like Laman and Lemuel? I’ve often heard this self-deprecating aside in Sunday School lessons. Don’t we all sometimes feel like the skeptical disbelieving brothers and less like the valiant hero of The Book of Mormon’s beginning? Stop. Let’s talk a moment about the disbelieving, hard-hearted sons of Lehi. Don’t be too hard on them, one of them became the prophet. Oh wait, did you not realize we were talking about Nephi and Sam? Nephi doesn’t much discuss his… Read more

“Until they pay taxes they should have no say in any political agenda!” “I think it’s time to revoke their tax exempt status. It’s clear they’re mixing politics and religion.” “The LDS Church is a religion and should have ZERO say in state law. I heard about this thing once… I think it was called separation of church and state.” “If they’re actively involved in government and policy I don’t feel they should have tax exempt status. It’s just an… Read more

People talk as though they don’t have control over what they believe. I ask some atheists why they don’t believe in God: “It doesn’t make sense to me.” I ask some Catholics why they believe: “I was born Catholic.” And Latter-day Saints are just as guilty. We certainly believe in a process of searching and praying for truth. But listening to testimony meetings makes it clear that after all the prayers are done, people believe their “testimonies” will arrive gift-wrapped… Read more

Every Friday, I plan to publish a post about one reason I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By design, these posts won’t focus on the miraculous claims the Church makes. They will focus on the everyday ways the Church benefits me and encourages me to live a meaningful life. I hope to focus on the community, health, and other practical benefits of the Church. But before I do that, I want to start with the foundation…. Read more